Filing system

Abstract

A filing system having at least one file folder for holding documents. The file folder has at least one V-shaped notch along the top of the file folder which is designed to provide a location for the placement of identifying data such as alphabetical index information, bar codes and magnetic strips. The V-shaped notch is marked with a bold strip to indicate which half of the alphabet is desired for identification of the file folder,

I claim: 
     
       1. A filing system for allowing a user to identify and access documents, comprising: at least one file folder having a first V-shaped notch, a front cover and a back cover, said front cover having a top, a left upper corner, and a right upper corner; the first V-shaped notch having a left side and a right side,   wherein the left side is designed to represent a first portion of the alphabet and the right side is designed to represent a second portion of the alphabet, and wherein one of the left and right sides of the first V-shaped notch is marked with a bold strip to indicate which of said first and second portions of the alphabet is desired to identify the file folder;   wherein said first V-shaped notch is located in the top of the front cover, is sufficiently deep to allow documents placed in the file folder to be visible, and is sufficiently deep and wide to allow the user access through the first V-shaped notch to grasp documents placed in the file folder; and   wherein said first V-shaped notch is designed to provide a location for the placement of means for identification selected from a group consisting of alphabetical index information, alphanumeric information, bar codes and magnetic strips, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
       2. The filing system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the alphabet comprises letters A-L and the second portion of the alphabet comprises letters M-Z. 
     
     
       3. The filing system of claim 1, wherein said first V-shaped notch is about 2 inches wide and about 1.75 inches deep. 
     
     
       4. The filing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the left upper corner and the right upper corner of the file folder is cropped and designed to provide a location for the placement of means for identification for identifying the file folder. 
     
     
       5. The filing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one file folder further comprises at least one second V-shaped notch;   wherein said second V-shaped notch is located at the top of the front cover of the file folder; and   wherein said second V-shaped notch is designed to provide a location for the placement of means for identification for identifying the file folder.   
     
     
       6. The filing system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the left and right upper corners of the file folder is cropped and designed to provide a location for the placement of means for identification for identifying the file folder. 
     
     
       7. The filing system of claim 1, wherein said means for identification comprises a magnetic strip. 
     
     
       8. The filing system of claim 1, wherein said means for identification comprises a bar code. 
     
     
       9. The filing system of claim 1, wherein said means for identification comprises alphabetical index information. 
     
     
       10. The filing system of claim 1, including at least two file folders, each file folder having a first V-shaped notch, wherein means for identification is placed on each of the at least two file folders; and   wherein the placement of the means for identification is in the vicinity of the first V-shaped notch, and the placement of the means for identification is substantially the same for each of the at least two file folders.   
     
     
       11. The filing system of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two file folders each further comprise the back cover having an outline of the first V-shaped notch; and   wherein the means for identification is placed on the back cover within the outline of the first V-shaped notch.   
     
     
       12. The filing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one file folder further comprises at least one second V-shaped notch;   wherein the first V-shaped notch is designed to represent a first about half and a second about half of the alphabet; and   wherein the at least one second V-shaped notch is designed to represent at least two about fourths of the alphabet.   
     
     
       13. The filing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one file folder further comprises at least two second V-shaped notches;   wherein the first V-shaped notch is designed to represent a first about half and a second about half of the alphabet; and   wherein the at least two second V-shaped notches are designed to represent at least four about eighths of the alphabet.   
     
     
       14. A method of filing documents comprising placing at least one document in at least one file folder of the filing system of claim 1. 
     
     
       15. A method for filing documents, comprising the steps of: choosing at least two file folders, each file folder having a first V-shaped notch having a left side and a right side and at least two second V-shaped notches, each second V-shaped notch having a left side and a right side;   marking one of the left side and the right side of the first V-shaped notch to indicate a corresponding desired first about half or second about half of the alphabet; and   marking one of the left side and the right side of a second V-shaped notch to indicate a corresponding desired about fourth or about eighth of the alphabet.